League turns attention to Illini after victory at Purdue

John Supinie

Wednesday

Dec 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMDec 31, 2008 at 10:01 PM

Illinois basketball isn't used to flying under the radar, even though the Illini have been off the screen for the past two seasons. The 71-67 overtime win at No. 9 Purdue on Tuesday put the Illini back on the map.

Illinois basketball isn't used to flying under the radar, even though the Illini have been off the screen for the past two seasons.

The 71-67 overtime win at No. 9 Purdue on Tuesday put the Illini back on the map and perhaps signaled the end to the downturn in Illinois basketball that began with a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and continued with the team's first losing season in nine years last winter.

"This could be a turning point for our program,'' said Illini assistant coach Jerrance Howard.

Illinois (13-1 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten) served notice that talk about an upper-division finish in the Big Ten and an NCAA Tournament berth isn't wishful thinking. You can believe the Big Ten took notice -- even if coach Bruce Weber wasn't ready to put such a significant label on Illinois' first road win over a top 10 team since the Flyin' Illini beat No. 8 Michigan to end the 1988-89 regular-season.

"There's a long way to go,'' he said. "Vandy was a nice turning point. South Padre was a nice turning point. But I don't know about them as turning points as much as taking steps upward. Missouri obviously was a step. Those were little steps. This is a big step. We can't take big steps backward.

"Now the big question is 'How mature are we? Can we come back and play a disciplined road game this week against a top 25 team?' We can enjoy this for a day and a half, then come back to Earth.''

Illinois hasn't been ranked since Dee Brown's final game in March 2006. Before the top 25 is updated Monday, the Illini play at No. 23 Michigan on Sunday (11 a.m., Big Ten Network). The Wolverines and No. 21 Minnesota both lost conference home games Wednesday.

A split in the two road games to start the Big Ten seemed like making the best of a tough point in the schedule. By Tuesday night, the Illini talked of a sweep.

Said Weber: "Now you're greedy and selfish. In this case, you have to be.''

Chemistry, cutting down on turnovers and added depth were key to knocking off Purdue, the league's preseason favorite. Illinois lost six turnovers against Purdue, three more than the single-game school record and far fewer than the 15 lost in the seven-point defeat at Purdue last season. The middle of the court was critical.

"They're really good from the 30-yard line to the 30,'' Weber said. "From the top of the key to the other top of the key. If you get through that to the red zone, now you have them spread out. You can take advantage of that and hit open shots. They all remember getting punked and not taking care of the ball (last year). We made some strides on that. We dealt with the middle of the court.''

Frazier had seven rebounds, seven assists and only one turnover in 41 minutes played.

Of course, Illinois also had the shooters to take advantage of the open shots, including guard Alex Legion. In his fourth game with the Illini after transferring from Kentucky, he more than doubled his previous highs with 12 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes to finish as one of five Illini in double figures. He logged 14 minutes after halftime, including key minutes down the stretch when guard Demetri McCamey sat the bench.

The message: The players who are performing will get the minutes.

"When Alex joined us, it gives us better competition within the team and holds you accountable,'' Weber said.

Instead of just waiting for the new recruits to arrive, the Illini are having fun.

"The were talking about holding on and surviving this year,'' said Illini assistant Jerrance Howard. "Now we could be one of the top 25 teams in the country. We're fine where we're at. We like being the underdog. We like not getting the pub.''

After winning at Purdue, good luck with that.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

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